Pinal County will be hosting two informational public meetings in San Tan Valley regarding the extension of State Route 24 and the Central Arizona Parkway.

These meetings  are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 16 and 17 at the Central Arizona College San Tan Campus, 3736 E. Bella Vista Road, San Tan Valley.

“Planning and creating alternative roadways for our community is a path toward economic progress that will enhance the overall quality of life for our residents and the future of our community as a whole,” Pinal County District 2 Supervisor Mike Goodman stated in a county press release. “It is imperative that we come together to solve the challenges of today for a better tomorrow.” 

In its first phase, the Central Arizona Parkway would extend State Route 24 east of Ironwood Road to the CAP canal, creating a four-lane roadway south down to the Ocotillo Road alignment, the release stated.

“This will be a roadway similar to the improved Hunt Highway Corridor,” according to the release. “This project is to help alleviate traffic in San Tan Valley as growth in the area has been too rapid for the current transportation network to handle. Surface streets such as Hunt Highway, Ironwood/ Gantzel and Schnepf roads are already not meeting demand to serve the area.”

The Central Arizona Parkway is meant to alleviate immediate, short-term traffic issues for Queen Creek and San Tan Valley. Meanwhile, the North-South Corridor is expected to provide long-term, statewide benefits.